The Associated Press reported Wednesday that diplomats at the United Nations said the United States and France are moving closer to agreement on a Security Council resolution on disarming Iraq. They said the two sides moved closer after Washington agreed on the need to consult the world body before taking any military action against Iraq.

The Washington Post reported this week that the White House has been preparing for a war crimes investigation of Saddam Hussein if the Iraqi government is brought down. It also said US officials have picked a group of Saddam's top advisers who might also be prosecuted.